VNV Nation - Berlin 2007

Setlist
01. Das Bunker
02. Kommune 1
03. Skullfuck
04. Electronic Battle Weapon
05. Revolution

Rating
Music: 6
Performance: 6
Sound: 7
Light: 7
Total: 6.3




Imperative Reaction

After a short break to rebuild the stage the show went on with IMPERATIVE REACTION. The band was originally founded in 1996 by Ted Phelps and David Andrecht from the remains of the band D.N.A. The band's first release was an immediately popular track called ‘Persistent of Memory’. In 2000, Jason DM and Sam P. of PULSE LEGION joined the live band. The band became known not just for their popular debut album and extensive play in clubs, but gained a following as a band to see live. In April 2002, ‘Ruined’ was released. The band followed with a tour in support of the album, allowing them to play for increasingly large crowds and grow their fan base. Soon after the tour, the band worked on their next album, which was released in early 2004. ‘Redemption’ was more aggressive than the group's previous albums and helped to establish the band as standing on their own. The current album is called ‘As we fall’ and was released in November 2006. Supporting Ted on-stage was Gabriel (percussion) and Adam (synths). http://www.imperativereaction.net/ / http://www.myspace.com/imperativereaction



Music
Compared to the pure instrumental act opening the evening, we now got a “real” band on stage consisting of singer, drummer and keyboard player. The music of IMPERATIVE REACTION was a kind of pushing danceable electro sound with a nice dark melodic voice, sometimes Ted and Adam sung together or alternated. The show ran about 30 minutes and included six songs from different periods of the band history.



Performance
IMPERATIVE REACTION performed their songs very powerful and convincing. They did try to animate the crowd from the beginning and a great part of the audience followed them. There was more power on and off stage than during the first band. The lightshow was a little bit spare though and sometimes the musicians were hidden in the shadow in stage. But anyway it was more varied than during the band before giving especially some nice effects on the singer.



Setlist
01. Arrogance
02. Something I Left Behind
03. Collapse
04. Severed
05. As we fall
06. Giving Into the Change

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: 8
Total: 7.6






VNV Nation

VNV NATION are Ronan Harris (electronics, lyrics, vocals) and Mark Jackson (drums). VNV NATION’s inspiration was originally the clash of modern and classical Europe cultures, where mythology and technology live in an uneasy fusion but this has since broadened to encompass a world view.  http://www.vnvnation.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/vnvnation



Music
The music ranges from electronic dance music to ballads and classical inspired music. Inspirations are taken from a wide range of styles including contemporary underground club culture, industrial and classical music. The lyrics draw on philosophy, literature, art, politics and different forms of symbolism. VNV Nation does not advocate any ideology. It is a metaphor for expression. The show of their Judgement - Tour was powerful. Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson were supported by two live keyboard players. The band was in good mood and the audience was too.



Performance
Like every time at a VNV NATION show it was a big happening, not only a sequence of songs, rather an electrical storm, a discharge of emotions by mastermind Ronan Harris. Ronan - in a good temper - was running and dancing all over the stage all the time, he did establish a connection to the audience and animated the crowd to dance and sing along. Already at the second song ‘Darkangel’ the spirit went over definitely and the whole crowd was celebrating a big party.



Between the songs Ronan spoke to the audience, did some jokes and was talking about this and that or other bullshit - quite funny most of the time. In the background of the stage, Mark Jackson dominated the centre behind his e-drums and completed the performance of Ronan with his powerful playing. The crowning finish of the show was the second and last encore – ‘Beloved’, performed only by Ronan and Mark (this time at the keyboard) - very touching at every time if the audience was singing the lyrics of this ballad. Really, a great show again and I'm sure a great deal of the audience will come back next time!



Setlist
01. The Farthest Star
02. Darkangel
03. Testament
04. Descent

05. Chrome

Rating
Music: 10
Performance: 8
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total 9.1





All pictures by Nadine Ginzel
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